Rides where a FP is not needed if you are in a wheelchair/ECV

[Toffeewoffy]

I thought this might be helpful. We have discovered for ourselves plus had it confirmed by CMs manning the FP booths, that there are a few rides at WDW where there's no point wasting a FP if you're in a wheelchair or ECV.

For Big Thunder Mountain we usually get a FP but are always directed up the exit ramp to park up there and enter via the exit to get loaded onto a mine train. There was a large family ahead of us in the queue the other day who did not have a FP but did have the little chitty they were given at the entrance to the Stand by queue 'allowing' them to enter via the exit to ride. We were behind them and we had valid FPs. They were loaded ahead of us. In fact, with a Standby return of 25 minutes we still waited nearly 20 minutes to ride on a FP return. So, it really doesn't seem to make sense having a FP for that entrance as they won't take you ahead of the 'standby' wheelchair users.

Spaceship Earth is a definite waste of a FP: you go in via the wheelchair entrance and wait in a separated off section where the CMs take names and load several parties at once in batches. Again, it makes no difference whether you have a FP return or not, you will still all go on in the same group.

TSM: while wheelchairs going through the main line will wait longer than FP returners, you still both go off to the right to enter the disabled queue at the same point. We have timed it really badly on occasion and ended up behind a huge group of wheelchairs/ECVs and waited over 30 minutes even with a FP return. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get a FP return for this ride, but be prepared to wait a long time even when you're past the internal gateway. I just wish there was a way of finding out before you go all the way in whether there's a long queue ahead of you so you could make the decision to come back a little later!

It's a Small World : wheelchairs and ECVs enter through a separate gate and go straight down a side ramp. At no time did we scan our bands for this separate entrance. Therefore I really don't think it's worth getting a FP for this ride, either.

I'd be interested to know if people have come across any more rides where you don't need to use a FP then we can all save our FPs for rides where they're useful (such as Buzz Lightyear and Test Track etc).

 

[gap2368]

for BTM the guest in front of you were given a return time it was what ever the wait time - 10 minutes so then the guest came back at that time and got on if they were able to wait in line they would have still boarded before you so no they should not take you in front of the other guest just like if you could do the normal FP there would be some stand by guest in front of you.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would say that the answer is - it really depends on what the Standby Wait time is at the time you come to the attraction.

I thought this might be helpful. We have discovered for ourselves plus had it confirmed by CMs manning the FP booths, that there are a few rides at WDW where there's no point wasting a FP if you're in a wheelchair or ECV.

For Big Thunder Mountain we usually get a FP but are always directed up the exit ramp to park up there and enter via the exit to get loaded onto a mine train. There was a large family ahead of us in the queue the other day who did not have a FP but did have the little chitty they were given at the entrance to the Stand by queue 'allowing' them to enter via the exit to ride. We were behind them and we had valid FPs. They were loaded ahead of us. In fact, with a Standby return of 25 minutes we still waited nearly 20 minutes to ride on a FP return. So, it really doesn't seem to make sense having a FP for that entrance as they won't take you ahead of the 'standby' wheelchair users.

I agree with the other poster.
If you have a Fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (or for Jungle Cruise since it works the same way), you will either be entering the alternate entrance right away or be given an alternate entrance pass that is valid for 1 hour starting 'now' , which is whatever time you came to the attraction with your valid Fastpass. So, you could enter right away.

Without Fastpass, you would get an alternate entrance pass that is valid for 1 hour, but starts in the future however many minutes the Standby wait is currently. So, if it's noon and the Standby wait is 40 minutes, the attraction pass would be valid from 12:40 to 1:40

Spaceship Earth is a definite waste of a FP: you go in via the wheelchair entrance and wait in a separated off section where the CMs take names and load several parties at once in batches. Again, it makes no difference whether you have a FP return or not, you will still all go on in the same group.

Spaceship Earth is the one attraction where it doesn't really make a difference (although anything can change).
If you go early morning, it's often a pretty long wait. But, for much of the day, it's just a walk on anyway, so for large periods of time, no one needs Fastpass to ride it.

TSM: while wheelchairs going through the main line will wait longer than FP returners, you still both go off to the right to enter the disabled queue at the same point. We have timed it really badly on occasion and ended up behind a huge group of wheelchairs/ECVs and waited over 30 minutes even with a FP return. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get a FP return for this ride, but be prepared to wait a long time even when you're past the internal gateway. I just wish there was a way of finding out before you go all the way in whether there's a long queue ahead of you so you could make the decision to come back a little later!

I would get Fastpass or use DAS for TSM because otherwise you will be waiting in the Standby Line, which is consistently long.
We have sometimes been lucky and got on at a time when we rolled right into the alternate boarding area when no one else was waiting. Other times, we have had a longer wait.
In general, we have seen shorter waits there since DAS because previously anyone with GAC (Guest Assistance Card) used that pull off point. Now, it is being used for guests who need to avoid the stairs; those with DAS who don't need to avoid the stairs continue up the stairs.

This will change once the new track is completed. Things I've read also have said everything will be reconfigured and the entrance will be changed to the exit. I'm guessing this will mean either eliminating the need to cross the track over the handicapped boarding area - which is why the stairs exist - or crossing the track after riding. That would mean guests who only need to avoid the stairs would not need to use that boarding area.
[quoteIt's a Small World : wheelchairs and ECVs enter through a separate gate and go straight down a side ramp. At no time did we scan our bands for this separate entrance. Therefore I really don't think it's worth getting a FP for this ride, either.[/quote]
Small World is pretty much totally dependent on what the Standby Wait time is. It loads a huge number of guests per hour, so much of the time, the wait time is 20 minutes or less.
Small World used to give out alternate entrance return passes when the standby wait time was greater than 20 minutes.
The Standby queue is actually accessible to the final turn before the front ramp goes down toward the boarding area. If the standby wait time is longer, guests with mobility devices actually do wait in the standby line until that pull off point.
Guests with Fastpass go directly to the alternate entrance.
The gate to that area is not staffed when it's not busy, but at busy times, it is.

I'd be interested to know if people have come across any more rides where you don't need to use a FP then we can all save our FPs for rides where they're useful (such as Buzz Lightyear and Test Track etc).

My advice would be that it really depends on east the Standby Wait times are for attractions at the park and the attraction you are going to.
If Standby waits are long for other guests,mtgey will also be for guests with disabilities.

for BTM the guest in front of you were given a return time it was what ever the wait time - 10 minutes so then the guest came back at that time and got on if they were able to wait in line they would have still boarded before you so no they should not take you in front of the other guest just like if you could do the normal FP there would be some stand by guest in front of you.

agree

 

[minnie mum]

We've found that Splash Mountain is another ride where a FP may not save you time. It really depends on how long the standby line is, though. We've used the FP line a few times, and zipped right along until you reach the point just before the stairs, where w/c's and ecvs are diverted to the exit. And then are stalled behind a long line of other groups who have been pulled from both lines- with waits of up to 20 min. But to be fair, there are other times when there has been no one ahead of us.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We have run into this too, deciding to use a DAS return, FP+, or WC return time. It all depends on the ride. I am fortunate that I CAN have my son walk some FP+ lines. I do this on some lines that are REALLY hard to push an adult in a manual chair, like Soarin' and Space Mt, those hills! I also do this to avoid the longer WC lines, like the awful one at the Safari at AK, and the TS Mania (a tough one with the stairs though) and Spaceship Earth lines. I have not seen the BTRR WC line get too backed up myself. But I am very lucky that he is able to walk some lines, most people in WC probably could not.

I used to feel the same as OP at times, but less so now that I understand the system at each ride a bit better. I still get the FP+ for most rides, because I try to avoid the WC lines.

We went to WDW Oct 20-27 and used the DAS exactly twice in 7-8 park days. WC return, never. (again, because we are lucky in that DS can walk sometimes). The FP+ system has really helped us. At DL, we use the DAS more, it is so much easier to use with the kiosks there, along with their regular one at a time FP system.

 

[SueM in MN]

We've found that Splash Mountain is another ride where a FP may not save you time. It really depends on how long the standby line is, though. We've used the FP line a few times, and zipped right along until you reach the point just before the stairs, where w/c's and ecvs are diverted to the exit. And then are stalled behind a long line of other groups who have been pulled from both lines- with waits of up to 20 min. But to be fair, there are other times when there has been no one ahead of us.

I agree - it depends totally on what the Standby wait is.
This is a screen capture from the MDE app just a few minutes ago (almost 2 pm CDT zone Sunday, November 22, 2015).
All the ones with stars are 'Go now' meaning they have a short wait. With a short wait, you would be zipping long to the handicapped pull off point regardless of whether or not you are using Fastpass.
But, if the Standby wait is 40 minutes (let's say), you would in the Standby line for a considerable amount of time before the pull off point. Fastpass line gets to that point faster, do you still would save time using Fastpass compared to using Standby if the wait is long. How much time saved really depends on the Standby line.

 

[SueM in MN]

There were also more attractions at first that were using wheelchair/alternate entrance return times that are no longer using them.
Small World and Peter Pan both were, but are not any more.